Any suggestions for coop bedding?

[Chipper Chicken]

That's great, improve it as you can. Taller is better for ease of maintaining too.

I went back and found an easier to read (shorter) version on the perch study that mentions the bike tube....

http://www.yourchickens.co.uk/care-and-advice/the_perfect_perch_1_2842822

You mentioned it's a pipe they're roosting on so it should be easy to wrap the tube around. Maybe use zip ties or ....better yet, use wire at each end to keep it tight.

Chipper

 

[Chipper Chicken]

Do you know by any chance how to get my hens to sleep on the perch?? I go up to the coop in the morning while they are still sleeping and I find my 2 hens in the nesting boxes and the pullets on the metal pole  I would like the hens to sleep on the perch, but they only sit on them when I feed them again in the afternoon. lol

I think how most people train them (I don't have mine yet) is by going into the coop after dark and physically placing them on the perches. one or two times and I think they learn and prefer it. As long as the perch is higher than the nests they should prefer it.

 

[aart]

Quote: True.
.....and you may need to cover the nests an hour or so before roosting time.
As I suggested before clamping a 2x4 to the pole might make it more comfortable for them to sleep on too.
Don't remember seeing this metal pole in the pics before you took then down tho...saw a bunch of branches.

 

[shelbyw]

True.
.....and you may need to cover the nests an hour or so before roosting time.
As I suggested before clamping a 2x4 to the pole might make it more comfortable for them to sleep on too.
Don't remember seeing this metal pole in the pics before you took then down tho...saw a bunch of branches.

I have 4 different perches for them all. The pole is up higher than the rest of the perches. My EE is the on,y one that likes to go up that high. My 2 hens like to sit on the one near the entrance and the nesting area, but they only sit there for a little bit :/ I've never thought about covering the nesting area Thanks